Mounting means for positive yarn feeding device and stop motion on a circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a knitting machine having a positive yarn feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of the roller for positively feeding yarn between the roller and the tape. The positive yarn feeding device has lever means movable to an out-of-action position in which the yarn is moved into a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with the tape. A bracket which carries the feeding device is adapted to be mounted onto a support ring, the bracket having a hollow passage therethrough. Electrical switch means are operatively connected to the lever means whereby the switch means are closed when the lever means is in the out-ofaction position. Cooperating means are provided on the support ring and on the bracket for automatically connecting the switch to a power supply, which cooperating means comprise electrically conducting surfaces on the support ring and electrically conducting means extending from the switch through the hollow passage in the bracket to engage one of the conducting surfaces on the support ring, as the bracket is mounted onto the support ring. The disclosure also relates to a stop motion which is mounted on a support member of the knitting machine so that as the stop motion is mounted there is produced simultaneous electrical contact between the stop motion switch and conducting surfaces on the support member which is connected to a power supply.

United States Patent [191 Deniega [451 Apr. 9,- 1974 1 MOUNTING MEANS FOR POSITIVE YARN FEEDING DEVICE AND STOP MOTION ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Jose Castillo Deniega, Elmhurst,

[73] Assignee: Stop-Motion Devices Corporation, New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 151,800

3,132,495 5/1964 Antonevich. "766/163 3.264,845 8/1966 Rosen 66/132 T 3,418,831 12/1968 Nance 66/132 T 3,490,710 1/1970 Muhlhausler 66/132 R X 3,677,036 7/1972 Hatay 66/132 R Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Allurney, Agent, or Firm-Henry L. Lerner [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a knitting machine having a positive yam feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of the roller for positively feeding yarn between the roller and the tape. The positive yarn feeding device has lever means movable to an out-of-action position in which the yarn is moved into a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with the tape. A bracket which carries the feeding device is adapted to be mounted onto a support ring, the bracket having a hollow passage therethrough. Electrical switch means are operatively connected to the lever means whereby the switch means are closed when the lever means is in the out of-action position. Cooperating means are provided on the support ring and on the bracket for automatically connecting the switch to a power supply, which cooperating means comprise electrically conducting surfaces on the support ring and electrically conducting means extending from the switch through the hollow passage in the bracket to engage one of the conducting surfaces on the support ring, as the bracket is mounted onto the support ring. The disclosure also relates to a stop motion which is mounted on a support member of the knitting machine so that as the stop motion is mounted there is produced simultaneous electrical contact between the stop motion switch and conducting surfaces on the support member which is connected to a power supply.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 14 3,802,228

SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 3,

IOO

MOUNTING MEANS FOR POSITIVE YARN FEEDING DEVICE AND STOP MOTION ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern day knitting machines through which a large number of yarns are simultaneously fed are usually provided with stop motions which detect knitting faults, such as yarn breakage or excessive yarn tension, for instantaneously interrupting the operation of the knitting machine. Such stop motions usually consist of a yarn sensing device which is in operative relation with respect to the yarn in such a manner that when the yarn breaks, the sensing device will be operative to cause the completion of an electrical circuit which will, in turn cause the interruption of the drive motor for the knitting machine.

These stop motion devices are conventionally mounted on a support ring which constitutes a portion of the frame of the knitting machine. Each stop motion device so mounted includes an electrical switch whose contacts must be connected to ground and power leads, respectively, so that upon closing of the switch in response to a yarn breakage, a circuit will be completed which includes means for interrupting the drive of the knitting machine. In accordance with the prior art, the

electrical connection of the power lead is made by providing a separate live electrically conducting ring to which there is connected a conducting lead from the stop motion for making the power connection. Significant labor time is required to make such electrical connections, and the live ring as well as the electrical wiring utilized are often exposed. In addition, such connections are often faulty, thereby rendering the stop motions inoperative for their intended purposes.

Most current knitting machines are also provided with positive yarn feeding devices in order to more accurately control the quantity and tension of the yarn fed to the machine, to produce more uniform and higher quality knit goods. In such positive feed devices, the yarn is fed between a free-wheeling roller and a tape which is driven by the knitting machine. An example of a positive yarn feeding device for knitting machines is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,090,215. Though a knitting machine may be equipped with such a positive yarn feeding device, the knitting pattern may call for intervals during which some of the needles are to be fed with yarn which bypasses the positive feeding device. This is accomplished by placing the positive feed device in an out-of-action position wherein the yarn is physically displaced from its position between the tape and the roller. When such positive feed devices are used, it is common to associate therewith stop motions of the type previously referred to, in which case such stop motions are often mounted directly on the support means for the positive yarn feeding device. When stop motions are so provided, i.e., in association with positive feed devices, electrical connection for the switch on the stop motion is still made to the previously mentioned live ring, again creating unnecessary electrically exposed elements on the knitting machine and requiring additional labor time for making the electrical connection.

One of the problems in the use of positive feed devices is that after a number of these have been placed in out-of-action position and the knitting cycle calls for a restoration of these positive feed devices to their action condition, there is no way other than by individual physical inspection to make certain that all such positive feed devices have in fact been restored to their action condition. Accordingly, what happens quite frequently is that a few are overlooked resulting in the production of less than satisfactory goods.

In summary, therefore, while modern-day knitting machines are equipped with highly sophisticated attachments to improve the quality of the knit product and to instantaneously detect defects in yarn condition, their efficient operation under comparatively economical conditions is still the exception rather than the rule.

An object of this invention is to eliminate the need for manually wiring the stop motion to the power and ground leads after it is mounted to the knitting machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stop motion in which the electrical power connections are automatically made as the stop motion is physically mounted to a suitable support member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for a positive yarn feed device having visual means for indicating the out-of-action condition thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mounting bracket for the positive yarn feed device which includes an out-of-action indicator and wherein the electrical connections to power and ground are automatically made as the bracket is mounted to a support bar or ring.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support bracket for a positive feed device wherein the positive feed roller can be mounted at a selected one of a plurality of levels, for engagement, respectively, with a selected one of a plurality of drive tapes, for varying the linear yarn speed, without interfering with the electrical connection described above for the indicator.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a support bracket which includes a mounting member to which a stop motion can be attached for simultaneously making the desired mechanical and electrical connections.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of this invention, the above objects are accomplished by simultaneously making the electrical and mechanical connections required for the stop motion as it is attached to a support member of the knitting machine frame. The support member carries the power on a conducting strip insulated from the member which carries ground, and the stop motion is provided with electrical terminals which contact the ground and power sources as it is mounted on the support member thus eliminating the need for manual wiring to be done.

As another feature of this invention, the positive feed device has an out-of-action indicator which is actuated by a switch coupled to an out-of-action lever, so that when the lever is in the out-of-action position, a visual indication thereof is provided. By merely scanning the indicators on the knitting machine, it may easily and quickly be determined which of the positive feed devices are in this position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket carrying a positive yarn feed wheel and stop motions, the bracket being secured to a ring support member of a knitting machine;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the mounting bracket and the stop motion attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1 with a portion of the bracket being broken away showing electrical connections therein;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the mounting bracket taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view similar to FIG. 2 showing another form for mounting the stop motion onto the mounting bracket;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the mounting bracket with hollow spacers added thereto for adjusting the vertical level of the feed wheel; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for the indicator lights utilized with the stop motions and out-of-action levers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the perspective view of FIG. 1, there is shown a segment of a circular support member, ring or bar 10 which is illustrative of a plurality of such ring support members attached to the frame of conventional modern day knitting machines. For purposes of this invention, only the above-noted segment will be illustrated, while it is understood that similar connections to those described below may be made to other support members throughout the knitting machine.

A mounting bracket 12, mounted to the support member 10, carries a positive feed wheel 14 for feeding the yarn through the knitting machine. A tape 16 is driven by a centrally located driving pulley system (not shown) over the front of the drive wheel 14 between side flanges 18 of the drive wheel. The drive wheel rotates relatively friction-free and is journaled at 20. On either side of the rear of the wheel or roller 14 and positioned inwardly of the tape 16 are mounted thread guides 21 and 22, with each thread guide having a pair of eyelets for a double yarn feed. The yarn 24 is guided in such a way that it passes between the tape 16 and the outer surface of the rollers 14. When the tape 16 is curved along the surface of each roller, the engagement with the yarn will be effective due to the rather long contact surface, and yet will be very smooth. The yarn cannot slip between the rollers and the tape and flattening or deforming of the yarn is prevented. The yarn 24 is carried through the guide means 22 to a stop motion 26, which is operative to cause interruption of the knitting machine in response to breakage of the yarn passing therethrough. Mounting Bracket for Drive Wheel Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 through 4, there is shown the mounting bracket 12 of this invention which supports the positive feed wheel 14 described above, and includes an out-of-action lever. The lever is formed by guides 21 and 22 pivotally connected at points 28 and 30, respectively, to a support plate 29 connected to the bracket 12 for moving the yarn out of engagement with the tape 16, as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 2. Eyelets 31 and 33 of guides 21 and 22, respectively, are downwardly movable, and when the lever is in this position, the yarn is moved out of engagement with tape 16.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 5, there is shown the mounting bracket 12 being attached to the support member 10 in accordance with the principles of this invention. The bracket is provided with mounting surfaces 32, 34, and 36 which define an opening into which the support member 10 fits. An elongated insulating strip'38 is attached to the front surface of an elongated recess 40 in the support bar 10 and spaced apart upper and lower elongated conducting strips 42 and 44 are attached to the insulating strip 38, The recess is wider than insulating strip 38, while the insulating strip is wider than conducting strips 42 and 44. Conducting bar 10 serves as an electrical conductor and carries the ground potential, while conducting strips 42 and 44 are connected by means of terminals 43 and 45 to the power supply and actuating means for controlling the motor drive, as more fully discussed in connection with the circuitry of FIG. 8.

In a hollowed-out rear portion 46 of the mounting bracket, there is provided a pair of spring contact members 48 and 50 attached to the bracket 12 with an insulating strip 52 securely fixed therebetween by means of respective screws 54 and 56. The contact members 48 and 50 project somewhat beyond the rear mounting surface 36, and as the bracket is attached to the support bar 10 by means of a bolt or the like, passing through mounting surface 32 to bear against the rear surface of the support bar, the spring contact members 48 and 50 bear against conducting strips 42 and 44, respectively. Thus, and as a feature of this invention, as the support bracket is mounted to the support member 10, both mechanical and electrical connections are simultaneously made, and the function of the electrical connections will be described in more detail below.

An out-of-action indicator 58 (FIG. 3), such as a lamp, is operatively associated with the out-of-action lever to provide a visual indication of the position of the lever. An electrical switch 132 (more fully discussed in connection with FIG. 8) for the out-of-action indicator is formed by a tongue member 60 and a movable ground bar 62, the ground bar being attached between guides 21 and 22 and being moved therewith, the tongue member being electrically connected to the conducting strip 42 through a wire 64, which passes through the bracket 12 and is connected to spring contact member 48 and conducting strip 42. One end of the tongue 60 is mounted between an internally threaded terminal post 66 and an insulating washer 68 communicating with a screw 70, the screw securing the post to the bracket. More particularly, a support arm 72 for the roller 14 is attached to the bracket 12 by means of a screw 74 communicating with a threaded recess 76 in the body of the bracket 12. Support arm 72 is provided with an aperture 78, through which screw passes and secures the post 66 to the bracket 12. Wire 64 is connected to a conducting clip 80 which fits onto terminal post 66 for electrically connecting conducting strip 42 to the tongue 60. Insulating spacer 52 ensures that the power carried by wire 64 is electrically insulated from the bracket 12, the bracket serving as an electrical ground.

When the out-of-action lever is in the position as indicated in FIG. 5, the tape is engaged with the yarn, while when the out-of-action lever is manually moved downwardly, thereby disengaging the yarn from the tape, the ground bar 62 is moved into contact with tongue 60, thereby completing an electrical path to energize out-of-action indicator 58 indicating the position of the out-of-action lever.

The mounting bracket 12 is provided with a hollow body portion 46 in which expandable coiled electrical insulating wires 64 and 86 are carried, wire 64 being connected to projecting contact member 48, while wire 86 is connected to projecting contact 50. By providing the hollow body portion 46 with wires 64 and 86 therein, the exposed wiring found in the prior art is eliminated, thereby avoiding associated dangerous conditions.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown the bracket 12 and a pair of hollow spacers 88 and 90, the spacers adjusting the level of the drive wheel 14 to engage a selected yarn drive tape for achieving the desired linear speed for the yarn. The spacers are provided with hollow inner portions 92 and 94, respectively, through which electrical wires 64 and 86 pass for connection to respective electrical circuits. By using the hollow spacers as indicated in FIG. 7, it is possible to quickly and easily adjust the level of the drive wheel, yet maintain electrical connection between the conducting strips 42 and 44 carried on the support bar and their respective electrical circuits, to be described hereinafter. A suitable bolt or other connecting means 96 is provided for rigidly maintaining the spacers in place by passing through aligned apertures in the spacers and communicating with threaded recess 76 of bracket 12.

The mounting bracket 12, described thus far includes means for simultaneously making electrical and mechanical connections as the bracket is mounted to the support member 10. The provision of the hollow body portion 46 enables all power connections to be maintained enclosed within the bracket, and provision of expandable coiled wires enables a selected number of hollow spacers to be added without interfering with the electrical connections.

Mechanical and Electrical Connections for Stop Motion At least one stop motion is usually associated with each of the positive feed wheels and the stop motion conventionally includes an electrical switch whose contacts are connected to ground and power leads, respectively, so that upon closing of the switch in response to a yarn breakage, a circuit is completed which includes means for interrupting the drive of the knitting machine.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stop motion is provided with a fly wire 83 pivotally connected as at 85 and having a lateral projection 87 extending internally of the housing of the stop motion 26. The fly wire 83 is biased into the position shown by the full lines in FIG. 2 via conventional means such as a spring or the like (not shown), in which position projection 87 engages inner contact 89, collectively defining electrical switch 130 whose operation is more fully discussed in connection with FIG. 8. When (as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 2) the yarn passes through the guide 91 at the distal end of fly wire 83 and spaced apart aligned guides 93, 95 and 97 on the stop motion, fly wire 83 assumes a position in which projection 87 is out of engagement with inner contact 89 corresponding to the open position of switch 130. Thus, it is seen that when the yarn breaks, fly wire 83 is automatically biased into its projected position causing the closing of switch 130.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, means are provided to simultaneously make the required electrical connections for the switch 130 as the stop motion is attached to a suitable support member. A lower support bar 98 is attached to the mounting bracket 12 by means of a connecting plate 100 (FIG. 4). Referring more particularly to FIG. 5, one end of electrical conductor 86 is connected to the conducting strip 44 while the other end is electrically connected to a conducting strip 102 of the support member 98 by means of an electrically conducting clip 104 being mounted onto a terminal post 106. Support member 98 is provided with the aforesaid conducting strip 102 electrically insulated from the electrically conducting support member 98 by means of an insulating strip 108 in a manner similar to that for the main support bar 10. Terminal post 106 is provided with a threaded recess adapted to receive a screw 1 10 for securing the post against conducting strip 102. Conductor 86 is soldered to clip 104 and when placed onto post 106, an electrical connection is made between the conducting strip 102 of support member 98 and the conducting strip 44 of the main support bar 10.

The stop motion 26 is provided with an L-shaped bracket member 114 (FIG. 2) mechanically and electrically connected to the housing of the stop motion with the leg portion of the bracket being provided with a threaded aperture 1 16 through which a threaded bolt 118 passes. As the bolt is tightened, it bears against the rear surface 120 of support member 98 thereby bringing an external electrical contact 122 on the stop motion into an abutting relationship with the electrical conducting strip 102. Contact 122 is electrically connected to inner contact 89 so that the mounting of stop motion 26 on lower support bar 98 establishes electrical contact between inner contact 89 and conducting strip 44 while projection 87 is electrically grounded through the stop motion housing. It is therefore apparent that as the stop motion 26 is secured to the support member 98, the electrical connections are simultaneously made for the stop motion switch since electrical contact 122 is internally connected to one terminal (89) of switch while its other terminal (87) is grounded through the stop motion housing, thereby eliminating the separate and independent manual electrical connections previously required. In addition, as more fully discussed in connection with FIG. 8, an indicator light 124 may be provided in series with switch 130 in order to provide a visual indication of the actuation of the stop motion. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, two stop motions may be carried by support member 98 for a double yarn feed, precisely as above described.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment for simultaneously electrically and mechanically connecting the stop motion 26 to support member 98. In accordance with the embodiment of FIG 6, the stop motion 26 may be attached to support member 98 by means of a snap-on device generally comprising a U-shaped member 126 integrally secured to the stop motion 26 and the housing thereof, and being provided with leg members 128-l28 adapted to fit and grasp onto opposing upper and lower surfaces of the support member 98. Since the support member is electrically conducting, the ground carried thereby is carried through the U-shaped member 126 to the housing of the stop motion, which is electrically connected to one contact of the switch within the stop motion.

As is therefore clearly seen, when the stop motion 26 is attached to support member 98 by means of snap-on member 126, electrical contact is also made between contact 122 and electrical strip 102 which, as previously described, is electrically connected to conducting strip 44.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5, as well as that of FIG. 6, the support member 98 for mounting the stop motion 26 is carried by bracket 12 which carries positive feed wheel 14, with the electrical connection being transferred from conducting strip 44 to conducting strip 102 by means of wiring located within the hollow portion of bracket 12. It will be understood, however, that where positive feed devices are not utilized, support member 98 which mounts the stop motion comprises a support ring mounted directly on the knitting machine instead of just a short segment thereof carried by the positive feed wheel supporting bracket 12.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown therein a circuit diagram illustrating the operation of the circuitry associated with the stop motion and the out-of-action lever previously described. In FIG. 8, 130 represents the previously described switch defined by inner contact 89 and projection 87 which switch is closed when fly wire 83 assumes its normally biased position upon breakage of yarn passing through the associated stop motion, 124' represents the previously described light in series with switch 130, and 132 represents the previously described switch defined by tongue member 60 and movable ground bar 62 which are in engagement, closing switch, 132', when the lever is in its outof-action conduction. The identical numerals double primed, triple primed, etc. represent the same components at adjacent stations. As is readily apparent in FIG. 8, one terminal of switch 130' (through light 124) is grounded as is one terminal of switch 132. The other terminal of switch 130' is electrically connected, as previously described, to conducting strip 44 which is in turn connected, by means of terminal 45, to one end of actuator 134, the latter controlling the drive motor of the knitting machine. The other end of actuator 134 is connected to one terminal of power supply 136 whose other terminal is grounded. Out-of-action indicator switch 132' has its other terminal connected by means of conducting strip 42 to terminal 43, which is in turn connected to one terminal of out-of-action indicator 58 whose other terminal is connected to power supply 136. In accordance with the above circuitry, it will be evident that upon the breakage of yarn through any stop motion, releasing the fly wire thereof to assume its biased position, associated switch 130 will be closed completing a circuit which includes the power supply and actuator 134, energizing the latter to interrupt the drive of the knitting machine. Simultaneously, associated light 124 is lit to enable immediate detection of the particular stop motion which has been actuated. Further, the placing of the out-of-action lever in its out-of-action position will close switch 132' and complete a circuit to the power supply which includes out-of-action indicator light 58. As shown in FIG. 8, one out-of-action indicator light 58 is used in association with four stations enabling reasonably prompt detection of the particular lever which is out-of-action from among the possible four. It will be understood, however, that an out-of-action indicator light 58 may be provided for either fewer or more stations, as may be desired.

FIG. 8 represents the requisite electrical connections which must be made to permit the stop motions and out-of-action indicators to respond as intended. The construction of the mounting means for positive feed device and for the stop motion, as described in FIGS. 17, enables all the requisite electrical connections to be made simultaneously with the mounting of these components, thus eliminating the need for auxiliary exposed electrical conducting means.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that in the illustrated embodiments certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement-of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. In a circular knitting machine having a support ring and having a positive yarn feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of said roller for positively feeding yarn between said roller and said tape, said feeding device having lever means movable to an out-of-action position in which the yarn is moved onto a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with said tape, the improvement comprising,

a. a bracket carrying said feeding device and adapted to be mounted onto said support ring, said bracket having a passage therethrough,

b. switch means operatively connected to said lever means and closed when the latter is in said out-ofaction position,

0. cooperating means on said support ring and said bracket for electrically connecting said switch means to a power supply, said cooperating means comprising conducting surfaces on said ring and conducting means extending from said switch through said passage in said bracket, said conducting means electrically engaging at least one of said conducting surfaces upon mounting said bracket onto said support ring,

d. a stop motion for monitoring yarn emanating from said roller, said stop motion including a switch bi-- ased into closed position upon breakage of the monitored yarn passing therethrough, support means carried by said bracket for supporting said stop motion, said support means including a conductive portion electrically connected to another of said conducting surfaces on said support ring by means of a conductor extending through said bracket passage, and f. cooperating means on said stop motion and said support means whereby said stop motion switch is electrically connected to said another conducting surface upon mounting of said stop motion onto said support means. 2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises a main hollow body portion and a plurality of hollow spacers removably securable thereto for selectively adjusting the level of said roller.

3. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is further provided visual electrical means energized upon closing of said switch means to provide a visual indication of the out-of-action condition of said lever means,

4. In a circular knitting machine having a support ring and having a positive yarn feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of said roller for positively feeding yarn between said roller and said tape, said feeding device having lever means movable to an out-ofaction position in which the yarn is moved onto a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with said tape, the im provement comprising,

a. a bracket carrying said feeding device and adapted to be mounted onto said support ring, said bracket having a passage therethrough,

b. switch means operatively connected to said lever means and closed when the latter is in said out-ofaction position,

c. cooperating means on said support ring and said bracket for electrically connecting said switch means to a power supply, said cooperating means comprising conducting surfaces on said ring and conducting means extending from said switch through said passage in said bracket, said conducting means electrically engaging at least one of said conducting surfaces upon mounting said bracket onto'said support ring,

d. said conducting surfaces comprising two live conductive strips insulatingly mounted on said support ring, and said support ring defining a third conducting surface which is grounded,

e. a stop motion for monitoring yarn emanating from said roller, said stop motion including a switch biased into closed position upon breakage of the monitored yarn passing therethrough, and

f. support means carried by said bracket for supporting said stop motion, said support means including a conductive portion electrically connected to one of said live conductive strips.

5. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein there is further provided a light electrically coupled to said stop motion switch, whereby said light is automatically energized in response to the closing of said switch.

6. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bracket comprises a main hollow body portion and a plurality of hollow spacers removably securable thereto for selectively adjusting the level of said roller.

7. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein there is further provided visual electrical means energized upon closing of said switch means to provide a visual indication of the out-of-action condition of said lever means. 

1. In a circular knitting machine having a support ring and having a positive yarn feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of said roller for positively feeding yarn between said roller and said tape, said feeding device having lever means movable to an out-of-action position in which the yarn is moved onto a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with said tape, the improvement comprising, a. a bracket carrying said feeding device and adapted to be mounted onto said support ring, said bracket having a passage therethrough, b. switch means operatively connected to said lever means and closed when the latter is in said out-of-action position, c. cooperating means on said support ring and said bracket for electrically connecting said switch means to a power supply, said cooperating mEans comprising conducting surfaces on said ring and conducting means extending from said switch through said passage in said bracket, said conducting means electrically engaging at least one of said conducting surfaces upon mounting said bracket onto said support ring, d. a stop motion for monitoring yarn emanating from said roller, said stop motion including a switch biased into closed position upon breakage of the monitored yarn passing therethrough, e. support means carried by said bracket for supporting said stop motion, said support means including a conductive portion electrically connected to another of said conducting surfaces on said support ring by means of a conductor extending through said bracket passage, and f. cooperating means on said stop motion and said support means whereby said stop motion switch is electrically connected to said another conducting surface upon mounting of said stop motion onto said support means.
 2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bracket comprises a main hollow body portion and a plurality of hollow spacers removably securable thereto for selectively adjusting the level of said roller.
 3. The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is further provided visual electrical means energized upon closing of said switch means to provide a visual indication of the out-of-action condition of said lever means.
 4. In a circular knitting machine having a support ring and having a positive yarn feeding device comprising a roller and a tape running over a first portion of said roller for positively feeding yarn between said roller and said tape, said feeding device having lever means movable to an out-of-action position in which the yarn is moved onto a second portion of the roller in which it is out of engagement with said tape, the improvement comprising, a. a bracket carrying said feeding device and adapted to be mounted onto said support ring, said bracket having a passage therethrough, b. switch means operatively connected to said lever means and closed when the latter is in said out-of-action position, c. cooperating means on said support ring and said bracket for electrically connecting said switch means to a power supply, said cooperating means comprising conducting surfaces on said ring and conducting means extending from said switch through said passage in said bracket, said conducting means electrically engaging at least one of said conducting surfaces upon mounting said bracket onto said support ring, d. said conducting surfaces comprising two live conductive strips insulatingly mounted on said support ring, and said support ring defining a third conducting surface which is grounded, e. a stop motion for monitoring yarn emanating from said roller, said stop motion including a switch biased into closed position upon breakage of the monitored yarn passing therethrough, and f. support means carried by said bracket for supporting said stop motion, said support means including a conductive portion electrically connected to one of said live conductive strips.
 5. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein there is further provided a light electrically coupled to said stop motion switch, whereby said light is automatically energized in response to the closing of said switch.
 6. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein said bracket comprises a main hollow body portion and a plurality of hollow spacers removably securable thereto for selectively adjusting the level of said roller.
 7. The improvement in accordance with claim 4, wherein there is further provided visual electrical means energized upon closing of said switch means to provide a visual indication of the out-of-action condition of said lever means. 